Starting from January 26, 2026, discussions will begin on a draft law proposing amendments to the Law "On State Benefits in the Kyrgyz Republic." This draft was initiated by the deputy of the Jogorku Kenesh, Akylbek Tumonbaev.
As stated in the accompanying note, this document aims to support the state demographic policy, which seeks to increase the population in the country. It also proposes to expand social protection for large families and families with minor children, as well as to eliminate excessive and discriminatory requirements for the allocation of benefits.
Increase in assistance for families in mountainous areas
The draft law proposes to change the procedure for assigning the monthly benefit "assistance to residents of high mountainous areas" for the third and subsequent children until they reach the age of three. Currently, this benefit is only paid to families whose third child was born after January 1, 2026, which, according to the initiator, creates social inequality.
In this regard, it is proposed to introduce a temporary provision that will allow the benefit to be assigned to families whose third and subsequent children were born before 2026, provided that the child is still under three years old at the time of application. This decision, as emphasized, will help restore social justice and expand the coverage of state support for families in similar conditions.
Exclusion of property criteria for benefit assignment
The draft law also proposes to revise the mechanism for determining the neediness of families. Currently, when assigning benefits, the presence of property is taken into account, including household appliances, livestock, and transportation, which, as noted, does not reflect the real income level, especially in rural areas.
To improve the targeting and transparency of the system, it is proposed to:
- establish that the only criterion for neediness will be the total income of the family;
- exclude the consideration of property when assigning benefits;
- cease the practice of property surveys.
Additional payments for heroic mothers
A separate section of the draft law concerns increasing social support for heroic mothers. Currently, they receive a monthly benefit equal to the basic part of the pension, which, according to the developers, does not compensate for their contribution to the demographic development of the country.
It is proposed to establish an additional payment of 5,000 soms for heroic mothers. According to the Social Fund, there are over 31,000 heroic mothers registered in Kyrgyzstan. If the changes are adopted, about 1.8 billion soms will be needed annually for this additional payment.
Studying international experience
The accompanying note also cites the successful experience of Kazakhstan, where a state program has been in effect since 2024 aimed at forming a start-up capital for children through income from investments from the National Fund. This approach views support for children as a long-term investment in human capital and can serve as a model for strategic social policy.
According to the initiator, the proposed changes could improve the financial situation of families in challenging natural and climatic conditions, reduce poverty levels among large families, and create additional incentives to retain the population in high mountainous and border areas of the country.
